Management and analysis of cargo shipments

Abstract

A method for collecting and managing information related to the shipping and condition of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination is provided. An electronic cargo voyage folder (ECVF) associated with the cargo is created, including a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for the cargo voyage. At the source a first assessment of an initial cargo condition is requested and the first assessment of the cargo condition, a first place of assessment and a first time of assessment is recorded in the ECVF. The events occurring during the cargo voyage are also recorded in the ECVF. At the destination, a second assessment of the cargo condition is requested and a second assessment of the cargo condition, a second place of assessment and a second time of assessment is recorded in the ECVF.

1 . In a network comprising a database and a server, said network being accessible by multiple parties, a method for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, comprising: 
 storing in said database an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, and comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;    at said source, at least one of said parties requesting a first survey of a cargo condition through said server;    recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;    at said destination, at least one of said parties requesting a second survey of another cargo condition through said server; and    recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;    said server comparing said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and    said server using said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claim management process.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said server receiving, from at least one of the parties, information as to the availability of a transportation vehicle for loading said cargo at said source;    at least one of said parties requesting a survey of said transportation vehicle condition through said server;    recording said first survey of said transportation vehicle condition in said electronic cargo voyage folder;    providing authorization for cargo loading according to said first survey of said transportation vehicle condition;    at said destination, providing authorization for cargo unloading;    at least one of said parties requesting a second survey of said transportation vehicle condition through said server;    recording said second survey of said transportation vehicle condition in said electronic cargo voyage folder.    
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said voyage comprises an intermediary segment of an overall voyage, said overall voyage for transporting said cargo from an initial source to a final destination.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said transportation vehicle comprises a sea vessel.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in any one of  claim 1 , further comprising said server selecting a specific course of action for said cargo voyage from a prediction of overall costs based on information of past cargo voyages stored in already existing electronic cargo voyage folders.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in any one of  claim 1 , further comprising creating and recording a voyage for said cargo in said electronic cargo voyage folder comprising selecting a transportation vehicle, a loading port, and a discharging port.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in any one of  claim 6 , wherein said creating a voyage comprises recording details on said cargo, ports of call, and parties contacted by an operator for said voyage.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in any one of  claim 1 , further comprising said server generating notices concerning a progress of said cargo voyage.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said notices comprise at least one of: a delivery notice to indicate a date of arrival of said cargo to said parties, an arrival notice to confirm an arrival of said cargo to said parties and a Berth notice to confirm berthing of said cargo to said parties.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in any one of  claim 1 , further comprising recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, comprising: 
 a database adapted to be accessible by a processor and multiple external parties;    a processor; and    a memory encoded with processing instructions for allowing the processor to: 
 create an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo;  
 store in said database said electronic cargo voyage folder comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;  
 at said source, receive a request for a first survey of a cargo condition from at least one of said parties;  
 record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;  
 at said destination, receive a request for a second survey of another cargo condition from at least one of said parties; record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;  
 compare said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and  
 use said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.  
   
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method, performed by a computer, for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, the method comprising: 
 creating and storing in a database accessible by multiple parties and said computer an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, including a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage;    at said source, receiving a request for a first survey of a cargo condition from at least one of said parties;    recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey;    at said destination, receiving a request for a second survey of another cargo condition from at least one of said parties;    recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey;    comparing said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and    using said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.    
     
     
         13 . A system for collecting and managing information related to the shipping of a cargo during a cargo voyage from a source to a destination, the system comprising: 
 an electronic cargo voyage folder associated with the cargo, stored in a database accessible by multiple parties and comprising a cargo id, cargo contents and shipping methods for said cargo voyage; and    a cargo survey module adapted to 
 request a first survey of a cargo condition and record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said first survey, a first place of survey and a first time of survey upon receiving a first survey request from at least one of said parties;  
 request a second survey of another cargo condition and record in said electronic cargo voyage folder said second survey, a second place of survey and a second time of survey upon receiving a second survey request from at least one of said parties;  
 compare said second survey with said first survey to determine a difference between said cargo conditions; and  
 use said difference and said information regarding said places of surveys and said times of surveys to determine a party responsible for said difference in a claims management process.  
   
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a transportation vehicle module adapted to provide information as to the availability of a transportation vehicle for loading said cargo and for recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder a survey of said transportation vehicle condition, an authorization for cargo loading according to said survey of said transportation vehicle, an authorization for cargo unloading at said destination, and a survey of said transportation vehicle condition at said destination.  
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in any one of  claim 12 , further comprising a cost simulator for predicting costs for an overall voyage based on information of past cargo voyages stored in already existing electronic cargo voyage folders to select a specific course of action for said cargo voyage.  
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in any one of  claim 12 , further comprising an automatic notice generator for generating notices concerning said cargo voyage to parties involved in said cargo voyage.  
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said notices are selected from a list comprising of at least one of daily delivery notices, arrival notices, berthing notices, authorization notices, and Mate's receipt notices.  
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in any one of  claim 13 , further comprising a voyage events module for recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further wherein said memory is encoded with processing instructions for allowing the processor to: 
 record in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.    
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises recording in said electronic cargo voyage folder events occurring during said cargo voyage.